Imaging Genomics in Gliomas.

During the last decade, imaging has become the cornerstone for noninvasive diagnosis of different disorders and is currently being used by physicians all over the world. With the emergence of novel advanced imaging techniques that allow microstructural as well as functional tissue characterization along with the extensive work done by The Cancer Genome Atlas focusing on mapping genomic changes in glioblastoma, new correlations have been discovered between alterations at the genomics level and radiological imaging features in cancer patients. This has marked the beginning of a new era in clinical sciences, the era of "imaging genomics," which aims at establishing relationship between radiological imaging features and genomic characteristics of tumors. This article reviews the fundamentals of imaging genomics in glioma, its role in noninvasive genomic detection, and its future potential in personalized treatment planning.

Review of paediatric patients with urolithiasis, in view of development of urinary tract infection.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the development of UTI in paediatric patients, presented to OPD with urolithiasis. To ascertain what general parameters are associated with UTI, and examine specific characteristics of the calculi. METHOD: It was a retrospective study. Files of paediatric patients from July 2000 to December 2004 were reviewed. Only those patients with calculi and absent UTI and upto 5 years age were studied. All files of patients, primarily presenting with UTI, and those with documented urological procedures prior to UTI occurrence, were excluded from the study. Ultrasound and X-ray techniques were used to determine stone size and location. Collected urine samples were screened for UTI; organisms were isolated and cultured using Cystine Lactose Electrolyte Deficient (CLED) culture medium. RESULT: A total of 149 patients were studied. The mean age was 3.05 +/- 1.25 years, [77.2 %] were males [22.8%] females. Urinary tract infection [UTI] was found in 37.6% cases. Age status was significantly associated with UTI [p=0.008] along with the anatomical location [p=0.021]. The most common organism found on our culture plate of UTI positive patients was E. coli (21.4%). Bacteria were most sensitive to aminoglycoside group [16%] of antibiotics. CONCLUSION: We found a significant association between age, anatomical location of stones and UTI. These factors should be considered in paediatric patients to prevent UTI and its complications.